Hundreds celebrate Emancipation Proclamation Day service at Columbus church

Hundreds packed the pews at Revelation Missionary Baptist Church Thursday morning for an Emancipation Proclamation Day Service.

The program, remembering the signing of the offical version of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, was sponsored by The Columbus Metro Area Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

Bishop James E. Swanson, formerly of St. Mary's Road United Methodist Church, brought the message. He now leads the Holston United Methodist Conference, based in Knoxville, Tenn.

Swanson spoke passionately as to why it's important to continue commemorating the occasion.

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